Emissions Analytics tests hundreds of new cars each year, covering over 90% of car sales, in real-world conditions on the road using state-of-the-art gas analysers. It covers petrol and diesels, hybrids and plug-ins for many pollutant emissions, not least NOx. With test locations in multiple countries across Europe, as well as the United States, it is the best position independently to track the real emissions of cars, including the very latest new launches.

To date, we have tested well over 1000 vehicles across Europe and the United States, and over 400 new cars are tested each year. Every test is conducted to a standardised method. Therefore, you can be confident in the objective and comparable nature of the results. Tests are not funded by manufacturers or other interested parties, so we are able to publish results both good and bad.

To ensure an effective and robust programme, The EQUA Air Quality Index Advisory Board brings together a group of experts to guide, review the test and rating methodology, monitor the regulatory context, and provide input into the wider development of the index.

Helen’s research in air pollution developed from modelling studies of nuclear accidents, and diversified into international issues such as acid rain, and air pollution problems in Eastern Europe. She retains a strong interest in urban air pollution, particularly in London, where she co-founded the APRIL (Air Pollution Research In London) network and chairs the subgroup on emissions, modelling and measurements. She has been a member of numerous expert groups and committees, including the Airborne Particles Expert Group, the National Expert Group on Transboundary Air Pollution, and the Air Quality Expert Group of DEFRA.

Dr Adam Boies – Department of Engineering, The University of Cambridge, UK

Adam is a lead investigator of transportation energy and emissions within the Energy Efficient Cities initiative (EECi) and the Centre for Sustainable Freight, which focus on developing analysis tools that demonstrate achievable reductions in energy use and emissions. His transport research focuses on developing bottom-up engineering models of the UK vehicle fleet and liquid transport fuel to determine lifecycle energy use and emissions. He is principal investigator of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)-funded Airport Environmental Investment toolkit that has developed applications for evaluation of emissions (local air quality pollutants and greenhouse gases) for UK airports.

John German – Senior Fellow, The International Council on Clean Transportation, USA

John is credited as a key figure in the recent emissions scandal, with his research highlighting discrepancies in the emissions of diesel vehicles when comparing official figures to real world results. John has been involved with advanced technology and efficiency since joining Chrysler in 1976, where he spent eight years in Powertrain Engineering working on fuel economy issues. He then spent 13 years researching and writing regulations for the EPA’s Office of Mobile Sources’ laboratory in Ann Arbor in Michigan, USA, followed by eleven years as Manager of Environmental and Energy Analyses for American Honda Motor Company. John is the author of a variety of technical papers and a book on hybrid gasoline-electric vehicles published by SAE.

Martin focuses on the application of atmospheric science to policy on air quality, the relationship between air quality and health, and on the links between air quality and climate change. He also retains a keen interest in the effectiveness of air quality policies on urban and regional air quality, as demonstrated by measurement. This includes recent studies on NOx trends. Previously Martin was head of the air quality programme in Defra, responsible for air quality policy and the research to inform it. He is also chair of the Executive Body of the UNECE Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution, and chair the Modelling Review Steering Group for Defra.

Prior to his current post at the Centre for Transport Studies, Marc was a research associate in the Centre for Sustainable Road Freight and Energy Efficient Cities initiative at the University of Cambridge. Marc’s research aims to quantify and reduce the environmental impact from transport using a range of emissions measurement and modelling tools. Recent research projects have included quantifying greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions from natural gas heavy goods vehicles, using real-world vehicle emissions data to improve emissions models, and quantifying the air quality impacts around airports and in urban areas.